The United States government removed Venezuela from the list of countries considered non-compliant in the fight against drug trafficking. President Donald Trump’s decision was made official through the Presidential Determination for the 2027 fiscal year, sent to the US Congress on September 15 and released on September 16 by the State Department.
The list has been used for more than two decades as an instrument of political pressure and economic sanctions against Venezuela imposed by Washington. The United States justified the change in stance by stating that the Venezuelan government, led by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, demonstrated compliance with its obligations in the sector.
The US administration cited advances in bilateral cooperation and the fight against criminal organizations in the region after the military invasion of the South American country on January 3, when Venezuela was bombed and its president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, deputy Cilia Flores, were kidnapped. At the time, the action was justified by accusations that the Venezuelan head of state was involved in drug trafficking, which is refuted by the couple’s defense.
Before that, the United States carried out a series of bombings of civilian vessels in the Caribbean Sea, under the argument that they were drug shipments. Evidence was never presented and family members of the victims deny links to drug trafficking. Human rights organizations say that around 150 people have died in at least 23 US attacks by the end of December 2025.
Despite the change, Venezuela remains on the general list of transit or production territories for illicit drugs, alongside several other nations. The United States’ own document considers that inclusion in this broad list arises from geographic and economic factors, without necessarily implying a “lack of government effort”.
The movement occurs in a context of reorganization of diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas, which involves negotiations in the oil sector and developments regarding Venezuelan sovereignty. While the position on Caracas was modified, the list of countries classified as defaulting includes nations such as Bolivia, Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
